Irish superstar Conor McGregor wasted no time in laying out a game plan for success for his fellow Irishman, Ian Machado Garry, ahead of his welterweight title showdown with Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 on Saturday night.

The Notorious is no stranger to UFC gold, having won titles in two weight divisions. Few other fighters can boast that achievement, but current welterweight champion Makhachev is one of them, having previously held the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Having won his last 16 straight fights, Makhachev is understandably a heavy favourite for the contest. Garry lost to fellow top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov in December 2024, but still holds a 10-1 record inside the Octagon.

Conor McGregor’s Message to Ian Garry Ahead of UFC 330

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McGregor and Garry have had a strained relationship at times over the years, with Ian previously being linked as a potential opponent for Conor prior to his injury-based loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 last month.

Despite their past differences, McGregor unleashed a burst of trademark Irish encouragement after Makhachev and Garry went face-to-face for the first time on fight week for the first time in front of the Rocky Statue in Philadelphia.

Responding to a video of the face-off, McGregor jumped to social media with a line that caught fire: “Come on Garry, target that big mallet!” referring to Garry aiming straight for Makhachev’s head.

Why Conor McGregor is Supporting Ian Garry at UFC 330?

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Conor knows plenty about winning UFC championships in devastating fashion after claiming both of his world titles via early stoppages. However, his interest in the bout runs deeper than national pride; as the first two-division champion in UFC history and a central figure in the long-running feud between Ireland and Dagestan, he knows exactly what this fight represents.

In the most famous meeting between fighters from the two countries, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor at UFC 229 in the most-watched UFC event ever, drawing an estimated 2.4 million pay-per-view buys in the United States and over four million people watching the live broadcast in Russia during the pay-per-view era of the UFC.

Now the spotlight shifts to Garry, who steps into UFC 330 not just as the obvious title challenger, after defeating Carlos Prates on short notice in Kansas City, and former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in Qatar last November, but as Ireland’s newest hope of finally breaking Dagestan’s streak. His opponent, Makhachev, is Khabib’s protégé.

McGregor’s response to the clip wasn’t just advice; it was a symbolic passing of the torch. He’s urging Garry to bring the aggression, embrace the moment, and swing boldly at a champion who represents the same region that once handed McGregor his most painful defeat.

United States president Donald Trump has once again positioned himself at the forefront of sporting controversy, taking a swipe at the NFL Hall of Fame’s decision-making that omitted one man.

The 2026 class, which welcomed five new additions to its ranks at its 8th of August ceremony last week, immortalised legends of American football such as Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees and lifelong Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Others to receive deserved recognition for their careers in the sport at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, included the likes of Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig.

Although the “fan-in-chief”, who has never been one to shy away from his sporting opinions, gave a scathing assessment in a rant posted to his Truth Social platform, calling out the decision not to induct former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

What Donald Trump Has Said

US President Donald Trump via Action Images via Reuters / Russell Cheyne Livepic

“It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable ‘—’ Kickoff Rule, that made it possible for Bill Belichick not to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Belichick can certainly feel hard done by to not make the cut in 2026. His 333 total career wins leave him second on the all-time list, just behind Don Shula’s 347; he can boast eight Super Bowl titles to his name, two as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, and a further six at the helm of the Patriots’ all-conquering dynasty.

This was the first year in which Belichick would have been eligible for selection to the NFL’s Hall of Fame, following a rule change that meant coaches could be given the nod after just one full season away from professional football. The 74-year-old narrowly missed out on this occasion after making it to the final selection process.

This is just the latest in a long list of Trump’s controversial sporting moments this year, be it the criticised UFC Freedom 250 that took place on the White House’s South Lawn, his public backing of the underfire FIFA president Gianni Infantino following his attempt to sell off a stake in the World Cup to private equity firms, and a high-profile appearance at an NBA Finals Knicks-Spurs match at Madison Square Garden.

What Trump/sporting critique comes next only the 47th president could say, but in the case of Belichick’s possible future induction into the Hall of Fame, you would expect it won’t be long before “The Hoodie” finds his way into the pantheon of the sport.